The office of the president of Phi Beta Delta (PBD) international academic society is now located on the NIU DeKalb campus. In May, NIU’s Sarah Lindell was named 2020 president of the national chapter’s board.
“It was a great honor to accept this role. It is an absolute joy to work with the other board members of Phi Beta Delta,” Lindell said.
Phi Beta Delta is an academic fraternity whose mission in part is to recognize achievement in international education, as well as to foster international education experiences and create a catalyst for international academic-based programming on campus.
Phi Beta Delta’s international focus fits well with Lindell’s role here at NIU. She is the administrative assistant for the Division on International Affairs. She oversees the NIU Travel Registry, which tracks faculty, staff and students who go abroad for research, study, institutional collaborations, volunteerism, and other activities. Additionally, she assists in managing international partnerships, coordinates visits by foreign guests, and other events.
“I especially enjoy coordinating International Education Week, a celebration of NIU’s achievements in international studies, research, and collaboration,” Lindell said. The event takes place during the third week of November and events include the reception for Outstanding Contributions to International Education by faculty, staff, and students and the Zeta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Delta induction ceremony.
The most recent members of the NIU chapter of PBD, Zeta Gamma.
NIU’s Zeta Gamma Chapter of the PBD includes 58 faculty, staff and student members. There are 160 active chapters, and global chapters have been established in countries including Bulgaria, Ukraine, Italy, Uganda and Mexico.
“Sarah is the glue that holds together the NIU chapter of PBD,” said Brad Bond, NIU associate vice president, Division of International Affairs. “Her commitment to PBD reflects her commitment to the powerful influence that internationalization has on the campus and on individual lives. Through her volunteer work with the national organization, others recognized her commitment to PBD.”
Lindell got involved with PBD when she joined the NIU’s International Affairs department in 2011 and became the chapter secretary as part of her job responsibilities. She assumed chapter coordinator duties in 2015 and continues that role now as well.
Among her many contributions to the organization, Lindell considers her biggest success to be in helping to coordinate PBD’s 34th international conference, which took place online this year with the theme: “International Education in Our Changing World.” Over 30 presentations covered issues in research, study abroad, health and collaboration.
“Sarah did an outstanding job organizing PBD’s national conference, the first that it is held in a remote modality,” said Bond.
The Zeta Gamma Chapter at NIU sponsors and cosponsors events, special lectures and receptions throughout the year, giving faculty and students the opportunity to bond over global issues. Events are advertised in the NIU calendar and the Zeta Gamma Facebook page.
Faculty, staff, and students can contact Lindell for information on Phi Beta Delta. Membership applications are accepted throughout the year but reviewed in September. Induction takes place during International Education Week in November.
